The San Diego Unified Port District heralded a fresh start Tuesday to planning its 6,000 acres and 17 miles of shoreline on San Diego Bay.

The board unanimously approved hiring HKS Urban Design Studio of San Francisco to oversee the first of six phases of what's being called a "comprehensive integrated" master plan. It would replace the port master plan that's been amended more than 30 times since it was adopted in 1980.

Port Chairwoman Ann Moore of Chula Vista, who set the plan rewrite as her top priority, said the constant amending process costs the port extra money and delays implementation of various projects, since each change must pass muster with the California Coastal Commission.

"The hope is we'll be able to have a plan that is more reflective of modern-day plans so we can avoid those types of amendments," Moore said.

HKS estimated its costs at $500,000 and delivery date as six months. The first phase involves laying out a vision and guiding principles for the next 50 years. Subsequent phases would entail preparing the actual plan, an environmental impact report and a coastal commission application. It's not yet known how long it will take to complete the process.

The port, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, oversees not only traditional port activities like shipping and waterfront industrial uses but also tourist-related developments, like the San Diego Convention Center, the planned Chula Vista bayfront redevelopment and environmental cleanup and habitat preservation.

Randall Morton, HKS director of urban design, said his team's job will be to lay out a balance between "what the public wants and and how to get where we want to be."

His firm beat out nine other applicants, four of which were also shortlisted and made presentations to the port board. Commissioners ranked the firms and HKS won the most first-place votes but did not debate the strengths and weaknesses of the teams.

Joining HKS will be:

Carrier Johnson, the San Diego architectural firm

Spurlock Poirier, the San Diego landscape architectural firm

Two engineering firms, Moffatt & Nichol and Randall Lamb

Three economic consultants, CCI, Jones Lang LaSalle and IDEA Partners

Cook + Schmid, a San Diego public relations firm that will handle the public engagement portion of the effort